In regards to what rules the local authority must follow .

 

Health

Responsible authorities are required to provide good health care for the child and the arrangements to monitor the child’s health care, in accordance with the health plan (regulation 7). In order to inform the actions in the health plan, the health assessment should include:

• an assessment of the child’s state of health including his/her physical, emotional
  and mental health;

• the child’s health history including, as far as practicable, the child’s family’s
  health history;

• the effect of health and health history on the child’s development;
  existing arrangements for medical and dental care, appropriate to the child’s
  needs, including:

  • routine checks of the child’s general state of health, including dental health;

  • treatment and monitoring for identified health or dental care needs;

  • preventive measures such as inoculation;

  • screening for defects of vision or hearing;

  • advice and guidance on promoting health and effective personal care

The Local Authority must ascertain the wishes and feelings of any other important people in the young person’s life, including:

• the parents;

• any person who is not a parent but has Parental Responsibility;

• any other person whose wishes and feelings the Authority consider to be relevant.

In making such a decision, the Local Authority shall give due consideration to:

• the child or young person’s wishes and feelings, having regard to his or her age and understanding. The more mature the child, the more fully s/he will be able to enter into discussion about the plans and proposals and participate in the decision-making process;

• the wishes and feelings of any person mentioned above and to the child’s religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background;

• whether to place children with their siblings; and

• whether to place the child near the family home.

• Placement

• Sections 22A to 22D of the Children Act 1989 make provision for the accommodation and maintenance of a looked after child. They provide a framework within which decisions about the most appropriate way to accommodate and maintain the child must be considered:

• Section 22A imposes a duty on the responsible authority when a child is in their care to provide the child with accommodation.

• Section 22B sets out the duty of the responsible authority to maintain a looked after child in other respects apart from providing accommodation.

• Section 22C sets out the ways in which the looked after child is to be accommodated.

• Section 22D imposes a duty on the responsible authority to formally review the child’s case before making alternative arrangements for accommodation. 

What role do local authorities play in care and support?

Under the Care Act, local authorities have new functions. This is to make sure that people who live in their areas:

• receive services that prevent their care needs from becoming more serious, or delay the impact of their needs

• can get the information and advice they need to make good decisions about care and support

have a range of provision of high quality, appropriate services to choose from